RECIPIENTS
2010-2011 Recipient- Rachel Miyata (Konawaena High School) $3,000
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Rachel Miyata graduated from Konawaena High School in 2011 with Magna Cum Laude and a BOE Diploma and will attend Chapman University in Orange, California in the fall of 2011. She will be majoring in Pre-Law, with a minor in Political Science. Throughout High School, she managed her time volunteering for community service, participating in sports, and being actively involved in her school’s clubs. During her High School Career, she held class officer and club officer positions for all four years. She participated in three sports, Varsity Swim, Cross Country and Tennis, and went to states in the year 2009 for HHSAA Tennis. She was a member of the National Honors Society, Interact Club, Japanese Club, Leo Club, Hiking Club, and Science Club. She has volunteered over 120 hours at Kona Adult Day Center and 75 hours as a Algebra 1 tutor in her senior year. Rachel would like to thank her parents, Bruce and Grace for all of their support and love throughout her life, and the Kona California Scholarship organization for their generous scholarship.
2010-2011 Recipient- Megan Kurohara (Hilo High School) $2,000
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Megan Kurohara was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii. She graduated from Hilo High School as Valedictorian, will be attending Stanford University in the fall, and plans to major in bioengineering. In high school Megan was heavily involved with science research, community service, and school activities. During her sophomore and junior year, after conducting independent original research, she qualified for and competed in Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair. In 2010, she and her partner won a 2nd Place Grand Team Award at the fair for their work with the photobiological production of hydrogen. In 2010, she was also named a Prudential Spirit of Community Distinguished Finalist for the State of Hawaii for her work in revitalizing downtown Hilo. Megan would like to extend a heartfelt mahalo to her parents, teachers, advisors, and especially her science fair mentor, Dr. Jonathan Awaya, for their continuous guidance and support, without which none of her successes would have been possible.
2010-2011 Recipient- Micah Tanoai (Hawaii Preparatory Academy) $1,000
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photo and bio coming soon!
2009-2010 Recipient-Alexandra Aoki
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Alexandra Aoki grew up in the city of Kealakekua and graduated from Konawaena High School with a BOE diploma. She will be attending California Polytechnic State University majoring in Marketing. Some of her achievements in high school include 4X Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Champion and 3X State Placer. She was also the president of the Kona 4-H Federation from 2008-2010. Alexandra graduated top ten percent magna cum and was a member of the National Honors Society. She enjoys judo and dance and was one of the recipients for the 2010 Salute to the graduates under the category athletics.
2009-2010 Recipient-Alyx Capri
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Alyx Capri was born and raised in Kailua-Kona. Her junior year of high school was spent the entire year abroad in Italy as an exchange student with the Rotary club of Kona. Alyx attended Kealakehe High School and was actively involved with Interact, the National Honors Society, and sports such as soccer and paddling. After graduating high school, Alyx plans to spend her summer in Europe before attending her freshmen year in college in Santa Barbara.
2009-2010 Recipient-Malia Tanaka
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Malia Tanaka graduated from Konawaena High School in 2009 magna cum laude and currently attends Chapman University in Orange, California, on an academic scholarship where she is double majoring in Political Science and Communications, with a minor in Leadership. During high school, Malia divided her time among leadership, sports, and community service activities. In addition to holding class officer, club officer, and student body positions, she was also Co-Chair of the Big Island Association of Student Councils, a member of the Hawaii State Student Council where she served as Chairperson of its Communications Committee, a participant in the E Malama Kakou project (a year-long leadership development program), and a Hawaii delegate at the National Association of Student Councils Annual Conference in Texas. She was a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the Leo, Invisible Children, and Interact Clubs, and a weekly volunteer at Hospice of Kona. She was also a member of the Varsity Soccer (BIIF Girls Division I Champions 2005-2008), Basketball (Hawaii State Girls Division I Champions 2007), Cross-Country and Track teams. Malia would like to extend a heartfelt mahalo to organizations such as the Kona-California Scholarship organization for their support and investment in the Kona’s youth.
2009-2010 Recipient-Daniel Beaver
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Daniel Bever was born and raised in Kailua-Kona. Daniel was team captain and player of the year of his volleyball team during his senior year of high school. He enjoys several sports such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, weight lifting, and badminton. He also participated in a program called running start which enabled him to take college classes during his senior year of high school. After graduating high school, Daniel plans to attend his freshman year of college in Santa Barbara. He plans to major in sports science, or marketing.
2008-2009 Recipient Colette Masunaga
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Colette Masunaga has spent much of her high school career overseas. She has traveled to Japan as an exchange student as well as a youth ambassador, served as a senate page under Senator Inouye in Washington DC, and has been apart of the TREE Hawaii exchange with the Navajo and Yavapai-Apache tribes in Arizona. Her most recent endeavor was being a Rotary youth exchange student to Thailand this past year. Despite her busy schedule Colette made time for school activities such as NHS, Japanese club, Tennis, and Water Polo. She graduated top ten percent in her class and will be attending American River College on a full ride scholarship sponsored by the D & J scholarship fund. Colette plans to major in Biology.
2008-2009 Recipient Corrie Kamigaki
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Corrie is a proud graduate of Konawaena High School. During her years in high school she enjoyed being active in her school and community. In her senior year, she was the senior class treasurer, president of the National Honor Society, vice president of Konawaena’s Leo club, and her 4-H club’s vice president. A few of her accomplishments included, being recognized as a National 4-H Congress Delegate, which allowed her to travel to Atlanta, Georgia and meet other 4-Hers from around the nation, as well as being a part of the Japan-American Society: Japan Wizards Competition 1st Place Team, gaining the opportunity to travel to Japan. She is also very proud of her accomplishment in making it to the tennis state tournament this year, competing in the doubles division with one of her best friends as her partner. Corrie is looking forward to a new beginning attending the University of San Diego starting this fall and would like to thank the Kona-California Scholarship for all of their help and support.
2008-2009 Recipient Mark Simpliciano
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Mr. Simpliciano has truly experience life lessons and experiences in his life. By the inspiration of his parents, who are immigrants from the Philippines who came here with the hopes that they can provide their kids and themselves the American dream. He has also gained life lessons by taking care of his autistic brother, learning values of life, many do not experience with. As a student in Kealakehe High School, mark has been involved with various activities and clubs, and has graduated in the top ten percent of his class with a 3.8 GPA. With these lessons Mark has learned, he is determine to
fulfill his parents dream of having their children grasp the promises America has to offer. By doing so, Mark will be attending San Diego State University majoring in Political science, with hopes of becoming a politician.
2007-2008 Recipient Caylin Gans
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Ms. Gans participated in many academic and extracurricular activities while attending high school. She enjoyed taking AP and Honors classes, was strongly devoted to Kealakehe High School Interact Club, was a member of National Honor Society, and participated in track, cross-country, and paddling. She also tutored elementary and middle school students in math. Caylin is interested in anthropology and archaeology, but will purse a variety of interests while attending University of California, San Diego.
2007-2008 Recipient Jennie Barto
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Ms. Barto will be attending college at California State University, Chico where she will pursue a major in Kinesiology with the hopes of someday becoming an athletic trainer, physical therapist or possibly a college soccer coach. Jennie will also be playing on the CSU Women’s Soccer team. While at Konawaena High School, she was involved with soccer, cross country and track. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.
2007-2008 Recipient Shina Tohara
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While attending Kealakehe High School, Ms. Tohara held office in the student council, and was involved with Interact and the National Honor Society. She was also very athletic, and was on the cross country, wrestling and water polo teams. Shina was also recognized as one of this years valedictorian’s, and will be attending the University of California at Chico.
2006-2007 Recipient Daryl Joyce Presiados
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Ms. Joyce’s early childhood in the Philippines has inspired her to take advantage of the educational and career opportunities in the US. As a student at Kealakehe High, she achieved a 3.8 GPA. Inspired by her older sister’s example, she plans to attend college in San Diego and eventually work as a traveling nurse.
2006-2007 Recipient Shiori Fujishige
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Her multicultural background and travel experience led Ms. Fujishige to an interest in the world. During high school, she worked at The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, where she shared the Aloha spirit with guests of different nationalities. Ms. Fujishige will pursue this career path by studying international business at the University of Redlands.
2006-2007 Recipient Chelsea Gans
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Growing up in Kona has taught Ms. Gans to make the most of the opportunities that are presented to her. She has been fascinated by Hawaiian Culture and Marine Biology, and looks forward to a career that allows her to “explore and be hands on.” Ms. Gans will study Liberal Arts at Chico State University.
2005-2006 Recipient Chelsee Furukawa
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Chelsee is an accomplished scholar, athlete, and volunteer. Her leadership experience at Konawaena High School includes serving as president of the National Honor Society and treasurer of the student government. She also participated in Interact, Leo Club, and the Japanese Club. In the realm of sports, Chelsee played both soccer and tennis, and spent four years as the captain of the bowling team. As a volunteer, she was active in Hawaii’s 4-H club, and plans to continue working with its California equivalent, H.E.L.P., as a way to build her leadership skills and contribute to the local community. Because of her achievements at Konawaena, Chelsee won the Dean’s Scholarship to pursue a major in pre-medicine at Chapman University.
After college and medical school in California, Chelsee plans to return to Kona to work as a doctor. She is concerned that because of a shortage of dermatologists on the Big Island, patients often wait six weeks to see a specialist about skin problems. She plans to improve the quality of medical care available to the Kona community by opening her own dermatology clinic.
2005-2006 Recipient Kimberly Manago
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Kimberly describes herself as a “hard worker” with many extracurricular interests. In addition to her studies, Kimberly has been involved in Konawaena Student Government, Leo Club, National Honor Society, Math League, and Japanese Club. Outside of school, she has volunteered and worked with the 4-H club.
As a student at UCLA, Kimberly will pursue a major in Civil Engineering. After graduate school, she plans to begin her career by working in California for a few years. Using this experience, she would like to open her own engineering firm in Kona. Kimberly feels that growing up in Kona has taught her to recognize opportunities and strive to take advantage of them.
2004-2005 Recipient, McKenzie Weimer
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McKenzie Weimer, a student at San Diego State University (SDSU), is the first Kona-California Scholar and the recipient of the $750 award. Graduating from Kealakehe High School in 2002 with a 3.7 GPA allowed her to visit California for the first time, to enroll in college. McKenzie maintained excellent grades at Mesa Junior College, and transferred to SDSU, where she is pursuing a major in Child and Family Development. She supports herself financially by working as a full time nanny for a child with autism. She feels that her upbringing in Kona and continued support from friends and family give her the strength she needs to face challenges and share with others. Her future plans include a master’s degree and a career in child counseling.
The Kona-California Scholarship Committee congratulates McKenzie for her academic achievements and community service. May she find further success and continue to share the Aloha Spirit!